#audiophilepressing

Mike Oldfield “Tubular Bells” LP. Somehow I managed to keep this album out of my personal collection till I bought a small collection a few years ago that had this half speed master in it. It’s not worth much and I like instrumental music so I’m probably keeping it, if nothing more, for a Halloween album. While I can’t speak for other regions, in Northeast Ohio thrifts and used record shops 20 years ago this was like the rock and roll equivalent to “Whipped Cream and Other Delights” insofar as its omnipresence. Fun fact: I have never listened to this record until today nor have I ever seen The Exorcist, though maybe I’ll watch it tonight? #LP #Vinyl #Records #MikeOldfield #TubularBells #HalfSpeedMastered #AudiophilePressing #TheExorcist #SpookyTunes https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjtho3AuESY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Opening my listening day with this classic LP from Gil Evans - “Out Of The Cool” on the Alto Analogue label. It Gil with fourteen other musicians (such as Ron Carter, Johnny Coles, Budd Johnson, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Knepper and others) playing Gil’s arrangements of five tunes, three standards and two Evans originals (Le Nevada and Sunken Treasure). Recorded by RVG, the sound of this reissue is outstanding! Power when needed, and delicacy when called for - and everything in between. The tone and timbre is spot on. The soundstage is wide and deep. But to be honest, while of course you want the best sound (and this Alto Analogue LP is the bomb), you’re buying this for the music which is out of this world. Evans understood better than most how to arrange things, both familiar and unfamiliar, in ways that grab the listener and hold your attention till the end. Most highly recommended. #LP #jazz #music #gilevans #record #recordcollection #altoanalogue #album #albumcover #albumcoverart #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylrecords #highend #analog #audiophile #audiophilepressing https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQ_vZYgJ7k/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1asi0onm5fe5w

One of the lesser known releases by Blue Note records in 1962 was this album recorded in France featuring drummer Kenny Clarke and pianist/composer Francy Boland. Together with six other European musicians laid down the tracks for “The Golden 8.” Pulling out my test pressing copy to give it a spin. What was originally released only in mono, here, on this Music Matters 33 reissue is now in full, glorious stereo. The music is wonderful and the sound is, as one expects from any Music Matters release, superb. Brass has that metallic bite, drums snap and cymbals shimmer, bass is deep and appropriately woody, and the horns have that reedy sound as air is blown into the mouthpiece. I can highly (very, very highly) recommend any Music Matters LP as the very best way to hear everything Blue Note captured on tape. This one is a don’t miss. #lp #jazz #music #musicmattersjazz #album #albumartwork #testpressing #record #recordcollection #recordcollector #audio #stereo #highend #audiophile #audiophilepressing #vinyl #vinylcollection https://www.instagram.com/p/BslGEusg3qA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dd8l5ox1gkku

Opening my Sunday morning with one of my favorite jazz artists, and a great tenor sax player, Ben Webster, from his album “At The Renaissance” as reissued by Analogue Productions. Recorded on October 14, 1960 by Howard Holzer and mastered for reissue by the late, great Doug Sax, and pressed at RTI, this album really shines. Webster along with Jim Hall, Jimmy Robles, Red Mitchell and Frank Butler out on the West Coast on Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California. Webster was in top form, as were his band mates. This is a live recording, and there’s a bit too much left/right to the sound for my liking, but that is offset by the tone and timbre of Webster’s tenor sax. His big, warm detailed sound (just listen for his breath on the reed). Hall’s guitar is a wonderful choice for a front line mate to Webster. And what needs be said about the rhythm section? These guys (Rowles especially) could play anything. Here they dive into five standards and one tune Webster had intimate knowledge of, Duke Ellington’s “Caravan (written while Webster was a member of the Ellington orchestra.) I’ve never heard an original pressing, so I can’t say how much of an improvement this reissue is. But I can state that I doubt it tops this LP. Long (LONG) OOP, you’ll have to scour the used market for a copy. But damn, is it worth it. Most highly recommended. #lp #record #recordcollector #recordcollection #recordlabel #album #albumcover #vinyl #vinylrecords #stereo #analog #benwebster #highend #audiophile #audiophilevinyl #audiophilepressing https://www.instagram.com/p/BtJRbnHgXqi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1u0u3l4gywu54

I can think of few better ways to ease into a Saturday morning than with the @purepleasurerecords reissue of this Art Farmer / Jim Hall title “Big Blues.” Farmer and Hall were a nigh on prefect compliment for each other. Neither is a technical show off. Both are gentle, relaxed players who get the notes perfectly right without any apparent effort. Ably assisted by bassist Mick Moore, vibist Mike Mainieri and drummer Steve Gadd, Farmer and Hall float over four tune (thus giving them the chance to stretch out and build a quality tune that eases your subconscious into it happy place. Recorded in 1978 at Electric Ladyland studios (not exactly a beacon for jazz musicians) for Creed Taylor’s CTI label. This reissue was remastered by Ray Staff and pressed at Pallas, so you just know that everything that was on the tapes made it fully intact on this record, which is flat and dead silent - which allows the music to float out of your speakers and send you off into musical dreamland. My only regret is that Farmer and Hall didn’t do a follow up album or two based on just how good “Big Blues” is. Grab a copy while it’s still in print. Very highly recommended. #lp #record #recordcollection #album #albumcover #vinyl #vinylrecords #stereo #analog #highend #jazz #music #audiophile #audiophilerecords #audiophilepressing https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGkaapA4Z0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=63c0n4cehlak

Opening my Friday (the rest of the worlds Monday) by spinning this Music Matters 45 of Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers album “Like Someone In Love.” Blakey, Jamie Merritt, Bobby Timmons, Wayne Shorter, and Lee Morgan - Blakey’s longest running itineration of his group. Usually players came and went, but in this case, I think they all recognized that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts and stayed together making album after album of brilliant jazz under the hands of Alfred Lion and Rudy Van Gelder. Musically this is superb. Sonically, nothing tops a Music Matters 45 for bringing out everything RVG captured on tape. These are starting to become harder to find, given they were limited editions, so if you’re interested in them at all I’d start looking now before prices skyrocket. Any Music Matters LP comes with my very highest recommendation. #LP #album #albumcover #record #recordcollection #analog #jazz #music #musicmattersjazz #audio #vinyl #vinylrecords #vinylcollector #audiophile #audiophilerecords #audiophilepressing #audiophiles (at Montpelier, Vermont)

Want to know what we audiophiles mean when we say we’ve been enveloped by the music - even in stereo? Put this SACD if Dead Can Dance in your player, get your volume up so it’s playing at around 90dB, and sit back. If you don’t think you’re sitting in the midst of the musical presentation, then there’s something wrong with your stereo. Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry’s seminal work is so chalk full of ambient cues you can’t help but feel as one with the music. No sure, I could have picked any one of the Mo-Fi press 4AD SACD’s as an example, but I just have always loved “Into The Labyrinth.” Played back via my Oppo 105D through AudioQuest Earth balanced interconnects to my Jeff Rowland Design Group Continuum S2 integrated amp through AudioQuest Oak Speaker cables to my Magneplanar 1.7i speakers with power quieted by the AudioQuest Niagara 1000 and Thunder Power Cord, this album just comes alive. Every time I hear it I’m hearing something new. And you’ll get a real handle of the resolution capabilities of your system by how it sorts out the multiple layers Garrard and Perry laid one atop the other in recording this album. You can call it rock, you can call it prog, you can label it world, and you all be right. To me, no label or genre call adequately describe the music of “Dead Can Dance.” It’s a music you have to hear to appreciate. It’s also a music one either loves or hates. I’ve yet to meet anyone who just “likes” their music. Polarizing? Yes. Good music that’s fun to listen to? Absolutely. If you’re lucky enough to own the original 4AD LP’s, lucky you. But these SACD’s aren’t far behind musically and sonically (if they’re behind at all). Oh, and despite reissuing all of DCD’s albums on SACD, Mo-Fi also reissued this album and one other on their Silver Line LP. I wouldn’t turn my nose at them either. But don’t miss these SACD’s. Most highly recommended. #SACD #digital #rock #prog #world #music #stereo #album #disc #audio #highend #audiophile #audiophilepressing #recording

Stepping back in time with this 1994 Analogue Productions reissue of this 1988 session by saxophonist Chico Freeman. A superb album that I was lucky enough to get the 169th copy of. Not only is it wonderful musically but sonically as well. The opening track features just Freeman and bassist Cecil McBee. The clarity of their instruments was a wonder to behold (behear?). Besides McBee, Freeman is joined by John Hicks, Billy Hart, Dan Moye, and Jay Hoggard. Freeman, know best for his adventitious playing here sticks to standards and plays them as if that’s all he’s ever done. If you love great jazz combined with a superb recording, then you need a copy of this LP. No download, no streaming service, do digital disc can do the full justice to the musical moments captured on tape better than this LP. Most highly recommended. #lp #album #albumcover #jazz #music #analog #record #recordcollection #audio #highend #stereo #audiophile #audiophilevinyl #audioproduction #audiophilepressing #audiophilerecords